Irene Shere

“Womanhandle: To expertly engage the cooperation of an Aging Human Male.” —Irene Shere

Irene has had many careers over the years, including computer systems analyst, high school math teacher, and preschool teacher and director. She was an early childhood consultant for over 25 years in the DC area specializing in work with challenging 3-6 year-old boys, which prepared her for living with—and loving—the Aging Human Male Species. 

When Irene and her Aging Human Partner retired in 2017, they moved to the Florida Gulf Coast. As Irene made new friends, they often met for lunch and, of course, talked about their men, who had changed so much from when they were younger and since they had retired. Three years ago, after one long whiney, wine-y lunch with two of her new close friends, where they laughed and kvetched  together about their old men, she came home and started putting vent to paper. Recording thoughts and feelings in writing was so much fun for Irene that she found herself laughing while typing at her laptop. After another girly lunch, Irene added another chapter, and so on and so on, until this book practically wrote itself. Having Helen and Rae Jean close by her side on her book journey was an added inspiration for Irene.

When not typing away at the keyboard, Irene’s retired life finds her beading, hitting racquetballs with Boomer Jocks, WhatsApping her grown kids, adoring her stubborn Aging Human Partner, and whining with her Precious Old Dames over countless salads. 

Irene has also published four books for and about children.

Helen Weels, Ph.D.* in Manthropology
*Ph.D.=Piled Higher and Deeper

“Self-love is a strength.”— Helen Weels

The care and feeding of the Aging Human Male is complex and requires tact, patience, and an amazing gal pal, otherwise known as a Precious Old Dame. (Please note: “old” is used affectionately, as in a sweet and comfortable “old” friend!) Rae Jean is my Precious Old Dame. She and I have been more than connected at the hip for years, so when she and I retired years ago with our own partners, we all descended together into the same hot Florida jungle of aging males and females, all delightfully eager to form friendships. And in these emerging friendships, common themes of living with an aging man caught us by surprise. It was almost as if we were all married to or partnered with the same man and struggling with the same challenges. There seemed to be a universal “Aging Human Male Species.” And, as we women often do, sharing our concerns helped us cope, bond, laugh, cry and sigh. And we learned a little bit, too. I hope that you will laugh, cry, sigh and learn a little bit, too, as you read our Sassy Primer!

Riding shotgun with Irene in writing this book was one of my retirement joys!

Rae Jean’s bio follows, but watch out, she tends to shoot from the hip and with a lot of lip!

Rae Jean Beech, B.S.* in Mengineering
*B.S.=Bad Sassyass

“Be a badass with a good ass.” — Rae Jean Beech

Helen has an open heart and empathy, compassion and patience—all that shit that aging is supposed to bring to you. For some of us, old age just means that our ass gets tougher, like aged leather, and our mouth gets sassier, like we’re sucking sour lemons. But we can handle it! Old age, bring it on! In the words and spirit of Bill Cullen on The Price is Right: “Old guys, come on down!” But in a good, sexy way.

After living in the Washington, DC, area most of my life, my partner and I retired to Florida three years ago. My retirement is freedom—freedom from work, from convention, from not being what everyone else expects of me. Retirement helped me release the whole Boomer Rae Jean.

Let it be known that I am a credentialed Bad Sassyass as I have a B.S. in mengineering. Mengineering is the Aging Human Female study of relationship principles in order to design a model wherein an Aging Human Male, despite being occasionally well-oiled and equipped with some obsolete parts, can function optimally in building an Aging Human Partnership.

I am also a certified Complainer Trainer, an Aging Human Female who is an expert in helping Boomer Babes learn to complain, although many of us don’t need any training—it comes with the aging territory. I was born a complainer; right after my trip down vagina lane, I looked up at my mom from between her knees and said, “Quit your bellyachin’! What took you so long?” And boy, or should I say, old man, can we professional complainers have a field day with the Aging Human Male Species.

The PODs—Precious Outstanding Dames and Precious Only Dude—behind this Sassy Primer and this jazzy website....

• Editor: Rachel Abileah

• Book Cover Design: Mary Ann Smith

• Illustrations: Andy “Doodles” Baker

• Designer/Topography/Production: Asya Blue

• Web Design: Signe Porteshawver